Stephen Colbert and his writing team celebrated a significant Emmy win for best variety series on Monday, securing six awards for "The Late Show." However, Colbert strategically avoided mentioning President Donald Trump, a frequent target of his show's monologues.
When asked backstage by Variety if his show was canceled due to Trump, Colbert initially appeared not to hear the question, feigning deafness in one ear and redirecting the conversation. He instead turned to compliment CNN reporter Elizabeth Wagmeister's dress and playfully declared himself the "most important member" of his staff.
During its run, "The Late Show" regularly featured Colbert's monologues dissecting Trump's actions and statements. Trump himself had frequently criticized and targeted late-night comedy shows, including Colbert's, and had called for CBS to cancel the program. The network cited financial reasons for the show's discontinuation, a decision that coincided with parent company Paramount's pursuit of FCC approval for a major merger.